Is Rooftop Solar Worth It in India? A Cost-Benefit Analysis

Upfront Cost

A 3 kW on-grid system costs ₹1.8–2.2 lakh before subsidy. Under the PM Surya Ghar scheme, you can get ₹78,000 back for a 3 kW system, bringing the effective cost to ₹1–1.4 lakh.

Monthly Savings

A 3 kW system generates ~12 units/day (360 units/month) in most Indian cities. At ₹8 per unit, that is ₹2,880/month or ₹34,500/year in savings. Payback period: 3–4 years after subsidy.

After payback, you get essentially free electricity for the remaining 20+ years of panel life. Net metering lets you sell excess units back to the grid in most states.